Constant-volume regulator for turbocompressors



W. E. TRUMPLER.

CONSTANT VOLUME REGULATOR FOR TURBOCOMPRESSORS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, I921.

- Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

7g NVENIM UNITED STA ES PATENT orrics.

WILLIAM E, TRUMPLER, OF PHILLIPSBURG, JERSEY, 'ASSIGNOR TO IliTG-lial'ts0L1;- RAND COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CONSTANT-VOLUME REGULATOR FOB TURBOCdMPRESSORS.

Specification r Letters Patent.-

Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

Application-filed February 19, 1921. Serial No. 6,461.

tially constant, irrespective of the pressure required to overcome the resistance n the H discharge line system.

In a regulator of this type, a movable member, which may conveniently be in the form of a bell shaped float, is subjected to pressure differences on the inside and outside, from suitable sources, at least one of which should be a variable source connected with the system to be regulated, and fluctuations in such pressure difierences cause the float to rise and fall and affords means adapted to be connected through suitable balancing and differential levers or the like, to the throttle valve of the motor of the compressor, for varying the amount of fluid supplied to the motor.

The objects of the present invention are to insure steady and even operation of the regulator, avoid oscillations in the parts of the regulator, prevent over-speeding of the turbo-compressor, simplify the construction and reduce the number of operative parts be" tween the regulator and throttle valve mechanism of the motor of the compressor.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear and to all of these ends the invention consists of the features of construction, arrangement of parts and combinations of elements substantially as hereinafter fully described and claimed in this specification and shown in the accompanying drawing, which is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional elevation of a portion of a turbocompressor provided with a'volume regulator constructed in accordance with one preferred form of my invention.

Referring to the drawing, a turbo compressor A is shown partly broken away for convenience of illustration and mounted on'the foundations B. For illustrative. purposes the floor line C ofa power house is 111- dicated, and it is to be understood that the steam end of the turbo. compressor A is bemg viewed in the drawing. The discharge from the com led to a blast urnace, for instance, to which 1t is desired to furnish a constant volume of air against varying pressures and for this ressor (not shown) may be purpose a constant volume regulator is provided for the motor of the compressor.

Steam 1s supplied to the compressor motor through the inlet pipe D controlled by the suitable throttle valve E actuated by' the piston F in the cylinder G and connected to the throttle valve E by means of the stem Any other suitable form of valve actuatmg mechanism may be provided and in the present lnstance, a ilot valve J o crating in the valve casing controls the ow of oil or other suitable fluid from the supply pipe L through pasa es 0 and P above and below the piston the oil being discharged through the discharge pipe Q. l

V The intake conduit R for the compressor 1s shown conveniently arranged below the floor line C and for the purpose of this invention, is provided with a Venturi tube or restricted portion S at which point the velocity of the incoming fluid is increased. Since the static pressure of the fluid at the throat or restricted portion S of the Venturi tube is sub-atmospheric .and less than that at the full diametered portion of the venturi, ad-

vantage is taken of this fact in the construction of ,a suitable volume regulator operatively connected to actuate the pilot valve J and thus control the operation of the throttle valve E of the compressor motor. Movable, means preferably in the form. of a bell shaped float T within the receptacle U is provided for controlling the power delivered to the motor and this float is preferably actuated by the difierence in pressure existing between the restricted portion S of the intake conduit R at which the velocity of the fluid is increased, and a source of higher pressure, which may be the pressure in the full diametered portion of the intake conduit at the point V. As shown, the restricted portion S of the venturi is connected by the pipe W and tube X to the inside of the bell whilethe outside of the bell is connected by thepiping Y tothe point- V in I the full diametered portion of the intake ycon'duit, although the space outside of the i bracket 0. The s orter arm (2 of the balancincrease, 1n or and down to vary the amount of-fluid supcoiled spring 9 1,aoe',eeo :7 j

some circumstances if desired. Fluctuations in pressure difi erences on the two sides hereinafter to appear, of the float '1 cause the float to move up elastic connection effected by means of the .1" suitably secured to the piston p at one on and to a cap or guide a at the float is connected by a stem other end, pivoted at t to the end of the ballever a pivoted at b on the ancing lever 0. I a

The com nsating cylinder, 0 is rovided withan in ct pipe to controlled by't e valve plied to the motor of the compressor.

As shown, the Z tothebalancin ing lever on is connected by the link e to a lever f at one end, theother end of said lever o and oil or other fluid is supplied through 7 being pivoted at g to the stem 71.. of the the restr cted opening aiford by the valve throttle valve E, and the stem j of the pilot 0 which limits the flow. Means are provided valve J is pivoted at is on the lever f.

In the operation of the devi'ceso far depensati cylinder 0 substantially constant. scribed, let it be assumed that the compres- 'In this instance, the pressure is controlled son is connected to supply a blast furnace by the relief valve w which permits oil to with a constant volume of air. In such pass from the pipe: u throu h the by-pass a: case, the resistance in the' furnace' to the to the discharge pipe y.

assage of air varies, and if the resistance spring 2 bearing on the stem of the relief increases, the s eed of the compressor must valve in may be adjusted by means of the er to supply the same quanscrew 2 and hand wheel 3, so that the relief tity of air passing through the compressor. valve w may be set for any given pressure. If the resistance decreases, the speed must 'By this means the pressure in the compenbe reduced, to maintain a constant quantity sating cylinder 0 is maintained substantially of air and prevent too much air from passconstant for any position of the piston 79,

and the regulator maintains aoonstant vol- Y in a llpon an increase of resistance in the dis- 'ume of flow 1n the compressor for any prescompremor, the velocity head sure in the discharge pipe. The piston is lowered which results in an in the compensating cylinder 0 can only 0 T which low a slow change of the load, and to make the pilot the regulator more responsive to quick charge of the in the intake increase of prmsure in the bell forces the bell upwardly, pulling valve J downwardly to the position indicated changes in load, the coiled springer other in the drawing, thus admitting oil under elastic member is provided connecting the pressure through the passage P in the valve piston p to the balancing lever 11. Upon a casing K beneath the steam inlet piston change of load, the expansion or compresvalve F, which moves upwardly and opens sion of the spring 1' will follow immediately he tension of a a rigid or elastic member, but for the, reasons I prefera resilient or for maintaining the pressure in the comthe steam inlet throttle valveE to a further with a slight variation of the volume of air extent, increasing the speed of the motor. passed, until the (piston 2 has followed in Upon a decrease of resistance in the disthe cylinder 0 an compressed or extended charge of the compressor, the velocity head the spring 6* to its original tension. The in the intake R is increased with a resultfunction of the constant ressure cylinder ant decrease of pressure in the bell. The and its-piston with the spring connection to bell T is sucked or pulled downwardly and the balancing lever a is to revent oscillathe pilot valve J is forced upwardly, admittions of the parts of the regu ator and serves ting pressure above the piston inlet valve to maintain a constant thrust.

F, forcin thethrottle valveE downwardly, To prevent the regulator from causing thus ten ing to close the throttle valve to a 'overspeeding of the'machine', suitable autogreater extent which decreases the speed of made means are provided, in this instance the engine. This regulation and control shown in the form of a speed limit valve effected by the volume regulator continues .4 in the casing 5 connected to, the supply automatically. pipe u, of the cylinder 6 between the said The pressure difference between the inside pipe and the discharge 3 This speed limit and the outside of the bell T produces a valveis connected to be operated by a suitthrust which is transmitted by the rod or able ball or spring governor 6 through the stem Z to the balancing lever a. The moa ency of the bell crank lever? or other suitment produced bythls thrust 1s automatically a lemeans. It is to be understood that the compensated by a weight, a suitable spring, governor 6 is adapted to be mounted on the dash-pot, or other device or similar connecmachine, but is shown diagrammatically in ion, cordance with my invention, this thrust is reached, the governor opens the speed limit compensated by the pressure in a compensatvalve 4 and produces an additional drain to ing fluid pressure cylinder 0; having a pisthe compensating cylinder 0. which lowers the ten su tably connected to the. longer arm q fluid presure to a minimum, so that irreoft e balancing lever 11. The piston p may spective of the adjustment of the regulator be connected to the balanclnglever either by by means of the relief valve u, the steam inut in the present instance and in acthe drawing. When the maximum speed is let valve E for the motor will'be further ltwo sidesofthe float'causethe float to move closed and the speed of the machine reduced. When the speed of the machine returns normal, the speed limit valve 4 1s agaln closed by the action of the governor, and the volume regulator is again in full control of the machine. ,Since the speed limit valve 4 prevents over-speeding of themachine, devices such as a difierential lever for ntro-- ducing the speed limit regulation are un-' necessary and the balancing lever'a of the volume regulator can be directly connected to the steam inlet valve E, if desired, or as shown in the drawing, to the pilot lever f of the steam admission relay of pilot valve J Although I have shown the speed linnt valve 4 as of the translatory type, any suitable type of valve may be prov1ded, and furthermore, the location of the pressure relief valve w and the speed limit valve 4 need not be in the immediate neighborhood of the compensatin cylinder 0 as shown, although it is prefera le to make the distances between these parts as short as convenlently possible, and the movable part of the speed limit valve could be the governor sleeve 1tself. Although oil has been mentioned as the fluid used for the operatlon of the regulator, this is because 011 is generall used, but any other fluid may be prov1 ed, by means of which the same results are accomplished.

I claim:

1. A constant volume regulator fora motor driven turbo compressor compmsmg an intake conduit for the compressor, movable means for controlling the power delivered to the motor and actuated by the difference in pressure existing between two points in the intake of the compressor due to the velocity of the fluid passed through the intake, and a constant fluid pressure compensatmg device connected to said movable-regulating means for resisting the thrust of sand movable means.

2. A constant volume regulator for; a motor driven turbo compressor comprising an intake conduit for the compressor, movable means for controlling the power delivered to the motor and actuated by the diflerence 1n pressure existing between a polnt in the ntake at which the velocity of the fluid is 1npressure at a point in the, intake at which the velocity of the fluid is increased whereby fluctuations in pressure difference on the up and down to vary the-amount of fluid supplied to the motor of the compressor, and a constant, fluid pressure compensating device having'a movable portion elastically connected to saidbell *shapedfloat for resisting the thrust ofsaid float.

4. A constant volume regulator 'for a motorfdriven turbo compressor comprising an intake conduit for the compressor, movable .means includinga balancing lever connected to control the power delivered to the motor and actuated by the dilference in pressure existing between two points in the intake of the compressor .due to the velocity of the fiuidpassed through the intake, a comp'ensating fluid pressure 0 linderand piston for resistingthe thrust o the balancing lever, said iston being elastically connected to said bal ancing lever, and means for maintaining substantially constant pressure in said compensating cylinder.

5. A constant volume regulator for a motor driven' turbo compressor comprising an intake conduit for the compressor, movable means for controlling the power delivered to the motor and actuated by the difi'erence in pressure existing between two pointsin the intake of the compressor due to the velocity of the fluid passed through the intake, a compensating fluid pressure cylinder and piston for resisting the thrust of said movable regulating means, said piston being connected to the movable means and means for maintaining substantially constant pressure in said compensating cylinder.

6. A constant volume regulator for a motor driven turbo compressor comprising an intake conduit for-the compressor, movable means for controlling the power delivered to the motor and'actuated by the diflerence in pressure existing between two points in the intake of the compressor due to the velocity of the fluid passed through the intake, and a constant fluid pressure compensating device valve. creased, and a source of hlgher pressure and 7. A constant volume regulator for a motor driven turbo compressor comprising an intake conduit for thecompressor, movable means for controlling the power delivered to the motor and actuated by the difference in pressure existing between a point in the intake at which the velocity of the fluid is increased, and a source of higher pressure,

' and a constant fluid pressure compensating device elastically connected to said movable means for resisting the thrust of the said movable means, a by-pass and a speed limit valve in the fluid pressure supply line for the compensating device, and a s eed governor for automatically control mg said speed limit valve.

8. A constant volume regulator for a mo tor driven turbo compressor comprising an intake conduit for the compressor, a receptacle, "a bell shaped float in said receptacle, one side of said float being subjected to fluid pressure at a point in the intake at specification. oat cause thefloat" fluid supplied to the motor of the compres sor,cand a constant fluid pressure compen sating device having a movable portion elastically connected to said bell shaped float A.

for resisting the thrust of said float, a bypass and a speed limit valvein the fluid pressure supply line for the compensating 20 device, and a speed governor for automativ cally controlling said speed limit valve.

- In testimony whereof I have signed this WILLIAM E. "ITRUMPLER. 

